Northern man diving back into Lake Huron for MS awareness
With cold water temperatures changing his plans, Matthieu Bonin is diving back into Lake Huron Monday to continue to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.
“If you’re struggling with MS or you’re caretaking for someone with MS, I’m swimming for you,” said Bonin.
“I hope you feel valued and I hope this brings awareness to your cause.”
Originally Bonin had planned to swim around Manitoulin Island this summer, but cold water temperatures, unsafe conditions along with a mild case of hypothermia forced him to adjust his plans.
“I made it about 50 kilometres, I started July 1st and had a few big swims. As we went more south the water kept going more colder and colder,” he said.
“I think day 1 the water temperatures were between high 50s and low 60s and I’ve trained for the cold, so I was swimming mid 50s no problem and then near the end of the last swim the water temperatures was in the 40s so that was just too cold.”
The new plan, which Bonin is referring to as Phase 2, will see him hop in Meldrum Bay Monday morning with a goal of swimming his way back to Little Current. He expects it will take him about nine days to complete.
“This swim is to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research. It was meant to achieve the impossible. I wanted to be a sign post of a world free of MS,” added Bonin.
Bonin has a goal of $100,000 with money raised going back to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada’s We Challenge MS Campaign.
“It represents one dollar for every Canadian that has MS,” he said.
“The first step in achieving something is believing it’s possible.”
More information on his journey and to donate can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.